Heim Gallery

Heim Gallery London was founded in June 1966 with François Heim who in 1954 founded Galerie Heim in Paris, and Andrew S. Ciechanowiecki as partners. Ciechanowiecki served as director in London while Heim remained in France. The emphasis of the gallery was on Old Master paintings, especially French paintings from the 15th to 18th century, Italian paintings of all periods, and sculpture from the Renaissance to the 19th century. The gallery is recognized as being among the first commercial galleries to present scholarly exhibitions.

From the description of Heim Gallery records, 1965-1991. (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 83207132

Biographical/Historical Note

Heim Gallery London began in June 1966 with François Heim (from Galerie Heim, Paris, begun 1954) and Andrew S. Ciechanowiecki as partners. Ciechanowiecki served as director in London while Heim remained in France.

The emphasis of the gallery was Old Master paintings, especially French of the 15th - 18th century, Italian paintings of all periods, and sculpture (marble, terracotta and bronze) from the Renaissance to the 19th century. The gallery was known for its scholarly exhibitions and catalogs. Between 1966 and 1989 the gallery presented exhibitions two to three times a year.

The gallery did business with museums and individual clients in Europe and the United States. Ciechanowiecki helped build two significant private collections in the United States, the terracotta sculpture collection of Arthur Sackler (a portion of which is now at the National Gallery in Washington), and the Ian Ross collection of 19th century French sculpture.

Heim Gallery also did business under other names: Old Masters (Paintings and Sculptures) Ltd. was created, apparently, as an internal device for tax purposes and had by 1986 as its sole directors, Ciechanowiecki and John Pomian, also sole directors of Heim Gallery at this time. (Francois Heim resigned as a director around 1986.) The two entities existed concurrently in different premises.

In October 1986, the Heim Gallery premises were leased to Richard Herner, owner of Swiftdene Ltd., and the corporate names exchanged: Herner was to use Heim Gallery, and Ciechanowiecki and John Pomian took on the name Swiftdene Ltd. Swiftdene and Old Masters shared premises at 67/68 Jermyn Street. At this point, Old Masters was still wholly owned by Ciechanowiecki and Pomian, with Swiftdene controlled by a Swiss company. Swiftdene ceased trading 30 September 1989 and its stock was purchased by Old Masters.

From the guide to the Heim Gallery records, 1965-1991, (Getty Research Institute)